The Keck Futures Initiative – a program of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine, with the support of the W.M. Keck Foundation – will award four $20,000 prizes in 2012 to individuals or teams (up to four individuals associated with the creation of the work being nominated) who have developed creative, original works that address issues and advances in science, engineering and/or medicine for the general public.

Nominations will be accepted in four categories: Book; Magazine/Newspaper; Film/Radio/TV; and Online. The winners will be honored in October 2012 at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C and are expected to attend in person.

Eligibility
To be considered for a 2012 Communication Award, the work should:

• be accessible and appeal to a broad, public audience;
• demonstrate clarity, creativity, originality, and accuracy;
• address issues and/or advances in science, engineering, and/or medicine;
• cover topics that have an impact on society; and
• have been published, broadcast, or released in 2011, in the United States and in English.

Material primarily intended for children, reference books, and textbooks are not eligible for consideration. Candidates may be individuals or teams of not more than four people. National Academies’ employees are not eligible and posthumous awards are not permitted. This award is not for lifetime achievement; the work for which a candidate or team is nominated must have been published or broadcast in 2011.